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Envoy: SKorea's Park open to dialogue with NKorea

FILE - In this Dec. 21, 2012 file image made from video, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks at a banquet for rocket scientists in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea's top governing body warned Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 that the regime will conduct its third nuclear test in defiance of U.N. punishment, and made clear that its long-range rockets are designed to carry not only satellites but also warheads aimed at striking the United States. The National Defense Commission, headed by the country's young leader, rejected Tuesday's U.N. Security Council resolution condemning North Korea's long-range rocket launch in December as a banned missile activity and expanding sanctions against the regime. (AP Photo/KRT via AP Video, File) NORTH KOREA OUT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A special envoy to South Korea's president-elect says the new government in Seoul will not tolerate North Korean provocations but will continue to push for dialogue.

Rhee In-je told The Associated Press and selected news outlets Thursday in Davos, Switzerland, that President-elect Park Geun-hye is urging North Korea to refrain from conducting a nuclear test that could only worsen the tensions on the Korean Peninsula. On Thursday, North Korea's powerful National Defense Commission declared plans to conduct a nuclear test and more rocket launches.

But Rhee says Park's administration wants to leave the window open for constructive dialogue and to offer Pyongyang medical and food aid.

Relations between the two Koreas plummeted during the administration of current President Lee Myung-bak. The new South Korean president takes office next month.

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